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Re: Muta cum liquida in JRRT (was "Double stressed" words)

From:Jeff Jones <jeffsjones@...>
Date:Monday, September 1, 2003, 10:57
On Sat, 30 Aug 2003 14:48:19 -0400, Isidora Zamora <isidora@...>
wrote:

>At 01:14 PM 8/29/03 -0400, you wrote: >>Isidora Zamora scripsit: >> >> > What, precisely, is muta cum liquida? (I know it's Latin, and I know >> > Latin, but by education extends only so far.) >> >>A stop (mutus) followed by an /l/ or /r/ (liquida). In Latin, this >>combination is treated as belonging to the following syllable, and thus >>not making the preceding syllable heavy, so it does not attract the >>stress. For example, "tenebra" (darkness) has initial stress, because >>it is te-ne-bra, not te-neb-ra. >>(This rule was changed in Vulgar Latin, though.)
Actually, Catullus uses the latter in III: At uo:.bi:.s ma.le sit, ma.lae te.neb.rae (line 13), also Qui: nun.c_it pe.r_it.ter te.neb.ri.co:.sum (line 11). I haven't found an example of the former (but I wouldn't put it past Catullus to use both), although it seems to be more common overall (and the only one possible at the start of the word). Incidentally, line 14 Or.ci: quae_om.ni.a bel.la de:.vo.ra:.tis read out of context could sound almost like Or.ci: qui:_om.ni.a bel.la de:.vo.ra:.tis (you) Orcs, who devour everything beautiful. Jeff BTW, does the form "tenebra" actually used?
>Great. I've been mispronouncing some of my Latin as well. I'm beginning >to wonder what they *didn't* forget to teach me in school. > >Thanks for mentioning the difference here between Classical and >Vulgar. That's helpful to know. > >>[cool story about hobby horses snipped] > >Glad you liked the story. Our kids are such a stitch. > >Isidora